Flexible pier



United States Patent Gffice 3,524,324 Patented Aug. 18, 1970 3,524,324FLEXIBLE PIER Louis F. Miklos, Lake County, Ind. (6151 Delaware St.,Gary, Ind. 64607) Filed July 1, 1968, Ser. No. 741,769 Int. Cl. E021!3/22 US. Cl. 6148 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A flexible piercomprising posts laterally aligned in transverse rows each of which areformed to include a closed coil spring in the body thereof so that thetop section may laterally flex relative to the bottom section. A hangermember pivotally connecting the top section of each post and pendantallysupporting a cross beam between a pair of laterally aligned poststhrough a slotted opening in the ends of the cross beam. Longitudinalframe members on each end of the cross beams being connected togetherend to end and to the cross beam through the slotted aperture therein.Cross boards laid side by side on the transversely spaced longitudinalrunners forming the platform.

This invention relates to piers and more particularly to a novel pierconstruction to render the pier flexible.

Piers of the prior art are generally rigid and are supported on woodenpiles which are arranged in transverse rows. Longitudinal members aresupported on the portion of the piers extending above the water linewhich support the deck. My invention is directed toward piers ofrelatively small dimension which are commonly used to dock small boatsand extend into rivers and lakes. The prior art piers are inflexible andare easily damaged when a boat is forcefully bumped against the pier.The wooden posts are also dislodged from their upright position due tomovement of the ice thereagainst during the winter months. Inconsequences of these forces, the rigid piers of the prior art becomedamaged, misaligned and out of level.

Accordingly, my objectives are to overcome the above disadvantages whichI accomplish by providing a pier of novel construction which includesupright posts which flex when impinged upon by a lateral force, and adeck construction and stringers therefor connecting the flexibleportions of the post in a manner to allow movement thereof withoutrupture or dislocation of any part, and the maintenance of the deckslevel bearing.

Another objective of my invention is to provide a flexible pier whichincludes a minimum of parts for economy of manufacture and ease ofconstruction.

Another object of my invention is to provide a flexible pier havingcomponent parts which may be preformed for easy assembly in situ andremoval therefrom when desired.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent aftera more careful study of the following specification taken together withthe drawings wherein is illustrated the preferred embodiment of myinvention.

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of portions of the flexible post of myinvention longitudinally sectioned and showing a portion of the deck andbeam members suspended from the post;

FIG. 2 is a plan elevation of the post, platform and beam membersshowing the post in cross section and the platform members in fragment;

FIG. 3 is a sectional end view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a pictorial view of the pier of my invention shown in a flexedposture due to the striking force of the boat shown in fragment;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the pier in longitudinal section.

With reference now to the drawings, numeral 10 designates generally thepier of my invention. It comprises rows of transversely spaced piles orposts which I designate generally by numeral 12. The posts 12 areidentical in structure with the possible exception of their lengthswhich may vary to accommodate the uneven floor line. Accordingly, thedescription of one post is applicable to all the other posts and thenumerals designating the component parts thereof should be read to applyto the same component parts of all posts. Each post 12 comprises a topsection 14 and a bottom section 16. The bottom section 16 is pointed asat 18 to facilitate being driven into the ground.

Top and bottom post sections 14 and 16 respectively are connected end toend having interposed therebetween closed coil spring 20. The ends ofsections 14 and 16 abutting against the opposite ends of coil spring 20are formed to accommodate the end coils of spring 20. The sections 14and 16 are hollow since they are most conveniently formed from pipestock. I further provide collars 22 and 24 to fit in the hollow of thepost sections ends. Collars 22 and 24 are provided with shoulders 26 and28 respectively which serve to seat the ends of spring 20. Collars 22and 24 longitudinally extend beyond shoulders 26 and 28 with a reduceddiameter 27 and 29 respectively to fit inside the opposite end of coilspring 20. Hook ends 30 and 32 are formed to fit inside collars 22 and24- respectively and therein secured by means of pins 34 and 36respectively which diametrally pass through the end of post section 14,collar insert 22 and hook 30; and the end of post section 16, collarinsert 24 and hook 32 respectively. Thus assembled, post sections 14 and16 are co-axially and rigidly connected together to render the combinedlength thereof a solid structure for a force applied longitudinallythereof such as a pile driving force, and simultaneously be transverselyflexible at coil spring 20 to give under an impact force appliedtransversely thereto.

Top section 14 of post 12 extending above the water line is providedwith a vertical slot 38 which is best shown in FIG. 1, to receivetherethrough cross bar 40 of hanger member 42 when the hanger member 42is turned sidewise from its pendent, platform supporting position. Pierplatform 44 comprises a cross beam 46 between each pair of transverselyaligned posts 12, which may conveniently be formed from channel beamspositioned so that the flanges 48 depend downward and the web section 50provides the support base for longitudinal frame runners 52 at each endof cross beams 46.

I find it convenient to utilize angle bars for longitudinal framerunners 52. The abutting ends 54 and 56 of adjacent longitudinal framerunners 52 are cut to rest oif center on cross beam member 46 which areconnected together by means of a pin 58 through hole 60 in one of theabutting ends 54 of frame runners 52 which overlap the center line ofcross beam member 46, and through slot 62 provided in the ends thereof.Washer 64 and cotter pin 66 are connected to the end of pin 58 toprevent accidental removal of pin 58. Sufficient clearance is allowedbetween washer 64 and web section 50 to allow sliding movement of pin 58in slot 62. The abutting ends 54 and 56 of longitudinal frame runner 52are connected together to hold end 56 of longitudinal frame runner 52 oncross beam member 46 by means of U pin 68. Legs 70 and 72 of U pin 68are inserted through holes 74 and 76 respectively, provided in theupright flange 78 of frame runners 52. Washers and cotter key means 80are connected to each of legs 70 and 72 to retain U pin 68 connected tothe adjacent ends 54 and 5-6 of frame runners 52. Cross beam members 46are supported at each end by means of hanger members 42 which areconnected to each post 12. Hanger members 42 preferably comprises acurvilinially formed bar having top cross bar 40 and bottom cross car 43at the ends thereof. I prefer to form cross bar 40 concentricallyarcuate with the circumferential curvature of post 12, and cross bar 43rectilineal to seat against web section 50 of cross beam member 46.

The pier platform 44 is formed with boards 84 which are placed side byside and the ends thereof resting on the horizontal flanges 86 betweenthe upright flanges 78 of the angle bars forming frame runners 52 tospan the space therebetween. Each of boards 84 may be fastened in anyconvenient manner to the horizontal flanges 86 of frame runners 52 suchas by bolt and nut fastening means (not shown). Thus constructed andassembled the pier of my invention is sturdy and stable under normalusage and cable of being flexibly movable in any direction. The posts 12are resiliently bent at spring member 20 under the impact of a forcewhich would otherwise damage a conventional pier. The lower end 14 ofposts 12 remains undisturbed, fixedly moored and the pier platform 44-is supported from posts 12 to allow substantial relative movementtherebetween to prevent loosening, collapse, or rupture of any partthereof.

It is obvious that modifications may be made without departing from thetrue spirit of my invention. Accordingly, what has been shown anddescribed in detail is a preferred embodiment of my invention and is notto be taken as a definition of the scope of invention, reference beingbad for this purpose to the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A flexible pier comprising:

a plurality of posts transversely aligned in spaced rows,

each of said posts being separable intermediate the ends thereof forproviding a top section and a bottom section,

a spring interposed between said top and bottom sections, said springconnecting said top and bottom sections in coaxial alignment,

a hanger member means pivotally pendant from said top post sections,

a cross beam member pivotally supported by said hanger member meansbetween transversely aligned posts;

longitudinal frame runners transversely spaced and supported on saidcross beam members adjacent the ends of said cross beam members; and aplurality of board members supported at the ends thereof by saidtransversely spaced longitudinal frame runners. 2. The flexible pier ofclaim ll wherein said spring is further characterized as a close coilspring.

3. A flexible pier structure comprising: a plurality of poststransversely aligned in spaced rows, each of said posts being separableintermediate the ends thereof for providing a top section and a bottomsection,

a closed coil spring interposed between said top and bottom sections,said spring connecting said top and bottom sections in coaxialalignment,

a hanger member means pivotally pendant from said top post sections,

a cross beam member between each pair of transversely aligned posts;

said cross beam member having a slotted aperture in each end thereof forreceiving therethrough the pendant end of said hanger member means.

a plurality of longitudinal frame runners transversely spaced andsupported on said cross beam members adjacent said ends of said crossbeam members;

connecting means at one end of said frame runners extending through saidslotted aperture in the ends of said cross beam member; and

a second connecting means linking said one end of said frame runner andthe other end of a longitudinally adjacent frame runner.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,402,465 1/1922 Wood 521132,949,324 8/1960 Birge et a1. 287-86 3,208,227 9/ 1965 Armbrust 61483,437,059 4/1969 Stonier et al. 28786 X JACOB SHAPIRO, Primary ExaminerU.S. Cl. X.R.

